Ratchet apparatus and switch construction

ABSTRACT

In an ignition switch for automotive engines, a leaf spring ratchet prevents rotating the switch to engage the starter motor while the engine is running. The leaf spring has one end attached to a rotor and the other end free. It has a recess in the radially outermost surface and a tooth between the free end and the recess. A stop means adjacent the spring prevents rotation of the rotor to the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;start&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position when it engages the tooth and permits rotation of the rotor to the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;start&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position when it engages the recess.

United States Patent Batchller 51 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] RATCHET APPARATUS AND SWITCH FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS CONSTRUCTION 1,131,465 7/1960 Gennany ..2O0/44 [72] Inventor: Kent .1. Bltcheller, Westwood, Mass. 1,150,140 7/ 1969 Great Britain"- 1,525,502 5/1968 France [73] Assignee: Joseph Pollok Corporation, Boston, Mass.

Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer [221 P 7 Assistant Examiner-William J. Smith [21] Appl. No.: 118,058 AttameyKenway,Jenney&Hildreth [57] ABSTRACT v [:2] (1:8. 81. ..200/44, 200/1 1 C, 3001/1661 SD In an ignition switch for automotive engines, a leaf spring 1 o h27/o6 ratchet prevents rotating the switch to engage the starter [58] field of Search ..200/77, 166 SD, 1 l C, 42 motor while the engine is running The l f spring has one cud attached to a rotor and the other end free. It has a recess in the [56] References Cited radially outennost surface and a tooth between the free end and the recess. A stop means adjacent the spring prevents N TE STATES PATENTS rotation of the rotor to the start" position when it engages 3,539,737 11/1970 Schupp .Q ..200/11 c x gf f gf ig g 'gf gzggg 2,121,671 6/1938 Schwarze .200/44 1 3,172,968 3/1965 Arendt ..200/44 8Claims, 10Dnwing Figures PAIENTEUFEB 15 Ian SHEET 1 [IF 2 FIG.

I J III-l Ill INVENTOR KENT d BATCHELLER 5 0% I K f TTORNEYS PATENTEDFEB 15 I372 SHEET 2 ur 2 INVENTOR KENT d. BATCHELLER RA'ICIIET APPARATUS AND SWITCH CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to a ratchet apparatus and a switch employing the same.

In ignition systems for automotive vehicles, it is desirable to rovide a means for reventin switchin to the start osi- P P 8 8 P tion when the engine is running. This prevents any damage to the gearing linkage between the starter motor and the engine caused by contact of the stationary gearing assembly of the starter motor and the moving gear assembly of the engine.

The present invention provides a mechanism which, when employed in an automotive ignition switch, prevents actuation of the starter motor while the automotive engine is running. The apparatus comprises an angularly movable rotor, a leaf spring with one end attached to the rotor and the other end free and a housing for the rotor and leaf spring. The leaf spring has a recess intermediate its length and a tooth between the free end and the recess which are adapted to fit with stop means associated with the housing. When the stop means contacts the tooth, the rotor can be rotated in one direction only. The tooth and stop means are disengaged by rotating the rotor to position the stop means into the recess. When the stop means is in the recess, the rotor can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise.

When employed in an ignition switch, a contact plate engages the rotor which, depending upon its angular position, contacts a given set of terminals so that power can be provided to the starter motor, accessories or ignition. The rotor can be rotated by any means including manually or by means of a lock cylinder associated with a key. An ignition switch is arranged so that the free end of the leaf spring bypasses the stop means when the rotor is turned from the off position to the start" position. The rotor is spring-biased so that when the force used to turn the rotor to the start position is released, the rotor rotates to an ignition position angularly intermediate the ofi and "start positions wherein the leaf spring tooth and the stop means engage to prevent rotation to the start" position. When it is desired to stop the engine, the rotor is turned away from the start" position so that the leaf spring recess and stop means engage and the tooth and stop means disengage thereby permitting subsequent rotation to the start position. If desired, an accessories" position can be provided at an angular position more remote from the start position than is the off position.

The invention will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. I is a side view of a key-operated ignition switch employing this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line 22. I

FIG. 3 is'a top view of the rotor of FIG. 2. i

FIG. 4 is a side view of the rotor of FIG. 1 taken along line 44 when the switch is in the off position.

FIG. 5 is a side'view of the rotor of FIG. 1 taken along line 44 when the switch is in the ignition position on the forward stroke.

FIG. 6 shows the leaf spring position taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5. I

FIG. 7 is a side view of the rotor of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 when the rotor is in the start" position.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the rotor of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 when the rotor is in the ignition position on the return stroke.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the leaf spring taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the leaf spring position when going from the ignition" position to the off position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, an ignition assembly 1, includes a set of terminals 2 attached to a terminal plate 3, a contact plate 4 which is biased in contact with terminal plate 3 by means of spring 5 within a housing 9. The contact plate 4 has conductive and nonconductive areas in a configuration which permits selective currentflow in a conventional arrangement. Pins 6 and 7 of rotor 8 engage openings in contact plate 4 so that rotor 8 and plate 4 rotate together. A leaf spring 11 is inserted in recess 12 of rotor 8 and held therein by means of spring 13 in recess 14 which contacts tab 10 of leaf spring 11. Leaf spring 11 is biased radially outward and toward face 15 of housing 9 by appropriate bending. Rotor 8 is provided with a recess 20 to engage an extension 21 from lock housing 22. Thus, when lock housing 22 is turned by means of key 23, rotor 8 and contact plate 4 are turned in the same direction.

The switch shown in the drawings has four distinct positions; namely, the o ignition," start, and "accessories." When the rotor is in the off position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, stop means 25 extending inward from housing 9 is adjacent to or contacts the radially outermost surface 26 of leaf spring 11. The rotor 8 is rotated from the ofi position to the start position until shoulder 36 of rotor 8 contacts stop 25. In the start position, the free end 27 of leaf spring 11 bypasses stop 25, and snaps radially outwardly to contact the inside surface of housing 9 in the area 29 (See FIG. 7). Also, when the rotor is rotated from the off position to the start position, spring 13 contacts stop 30 attached to housing 9 and is compressed so that when the force causing rotation to the start position is released, the rotor 8 will rotate in the reverse direction and the degree of compression of spring 13 in the start position is such that the rotor stops at the ignition position on the reverse stroke.

When the reverse rotation occurs, the beveled edge 31 rides along stop 25 so that the leaf spring 11 is forced away from surface 15 of housing 9. When tooth 32 bypasses stop 25 during the reverse rotation, the leaf spring 11 will snap toward surface 15, and stop 25 will engage tooth 32 (as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) so that rotation of the rotor 8 towards the start position is prevented. The tooth 32 and stop 25 are disengaged and prevented from reengaging by positioning the stop on outer surface 26 rather than in contact with the edge of the leaf spring 11. This is effected by rotating the rotor to the off" position so that the stop 25 fits into recess 35 of spring 11. In this manner, the stop 25 again contacts the top surface 26 of spring 11 when the rotor is either in the "off" position or the accessories position and thus, rotation of the rotor to the start" position again can be effected without tooth 32 and stop 25 engaging. Rotation past the accessories position is prevented by shoulder 37 of rotor 8 contacting stop 25 In the apparatus particularly shown in the drawings, the accessoriesand start positions are about 40 to 45 from the ignition" position and the off position is about 20 to 25 from the ignition position. In this arrangement, one stop 25 can be appropriately positioned to limit the length of rotation of the rotor in either direction and to effect engagement and disengagement with the tooth ratchet. However, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the use of only one stop means to effect these functions and that a plurality of stop means can be used. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the leaf spring can be engaged with the rotor by any means including the use -.of a spring as shown. However, this spring is not essential to the invention and no means need be provided to effect automatic reverse rotation from the start" position to the ignition position.

I claim:

1. In a switch, the apparatus comprising an angularly movable rotor, a leaf spring having one end engaged with the rotor and an opposing free end, and ahousing' for the rotor and leaf spring, said leaf spring having a recess intermediate its length and a tooth between its free end and the recess, a first stop means in said housing adapted to fit in said recess and with said tooth, said tooth, recess and stop means being arranged so that when the tooth and stop means engage, movement of the free end of the leaf spring toward the stop means is prevented and when the recess and stop means engage, movement of the free end toward the stop means ispermitted and means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 having a second spring adapted to engage a second stop means when the first stop mans moves relative to said leaf spring between the tooth and the-free end of the leaf spring.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation comprises said first stop means.

. 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation comprises said first stop means.

5., In an ignition switch for automotive engines having maintaining ignition of an engine and deactivation of the engine, the apparatus comprising an angularly movable rotor, a leaf spring having one end engaged with the rotor and an opposing free end, and a housing for the rotor and leaf spring, said leaf spring having a recess intermediate its length and a tooth between its free end and the recess, a first stop means in said housing adapted to fit in said recess and with said tooth, said tooth, recess and stop meansvbeing arranged so that when the tooth and stop means engage, movement of the free end of the leaf spring toward the stop means is prevented and when the recess and stop means engage, movement of the free end toward the stop means is permitted, means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation, when the leaf spring is rotated so that the free end bypasses the stop means, said ignition being maintained when the tooth and stop means arevengaged and deactivation of the engine is effected when said stop means and recess are engaged.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 having a second spring adapted to engage a second stop means when the first stop means moves relative to said leaf spring between the tooth and the free end of the leaf spring.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation comprises said first stop means.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation comprises said first stop means. 

1. In a switch, the apparatus comprising an angularly movable rotor, a leaf spring having one end engaged with the rotor and an opposing free end, and a housing for the rotor and leaf spring, said leaf spring having a recess intermediate its length and a tooth between its free end and the recess, a first stop means in said housing adapted to fit in said recess and with said tooth, said tooth, recess and stop means being arranged so that when the tooth and stop means engage, movement of the free end of the leaf spring toward the stop means is prevented and when the recess and stop means engage, movement of the free end toward the stop means is permitted and means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 having a second spring adapted to engage a second stop means when the first stop mans moves relative to said leaf spring between the tooth and the free end of the leaf spring.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation comprises said first stop means.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation comprises said first stop means.
 5. In an ignition switch for automotive engines having maintaining ignition of an engine and deactivation of the engine, the apparatus comprising an angularly movable rotor, a leaf spring having one end engaged with the rotor and an opposing free end, and a housing for the rotor and leaf spring, said leaf spring having a recess intermediate its length and a tooth between its free end and the recess, a first stop means in said housing adapted to fit in said recess and with said tooth, said tooth, recess and stop means being arranged so that when the tooth and stop means engage, movement of the free end of the leaf spring toward the stop means is prevented and when the recess and stop means engage, movement of the free end toward the stop means is permitted, means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation, when the leaf spring is rotated so that the free end bypasses the stop means, said ignition being maintained when the tooth and stop means are engaged and deactivation of the engine is effected when said stop means and recess are engaged.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 having a second spring adapted to engage a second stop means when the first stop means moves relative to said leaf spring between the tooth and the free end of the leaf spring.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation comprises said first stop means.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the means for regulating the distance of rotor rotation comprises said first stop means. 